Reno's Barnes celebrates 50th USBC Women's Championships
May 20, 2015
By Aaron Smith and Wishelle Banks
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - As soon as United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Betty Barnes of Reno, Nevada, set foot inside the National Bowling Stadium for her 50th USBC Women's Championships appearance this week, she was welcomed with open arms by bowlers ready to help her celebrate the milestone.
The 81-year-old right-hander started her tournament career at the 1958 event in San Francisco and received a plaque and pendant Monday to welcome her as the latest member of the event's 50-Year Club.
"It was wonderful, it really was," said Barnes, who also belongs to the Greater Reno Sparks and Nevada State USBC Halls of Fame. "Especially when a bowler says, 'I didn't know I was bowling with a legend.'"
As each day passes during the 2015 Women's Championships and more bowlers stream in and out of the "Taj Mahal of Tenpins," many never would know Barnes' pivotal role in bringing the tournament, and the NBS, to Reno.
The tournament made its first visit to the area in 1988, while the NBS opened its doors in 1995 and welcomed the Women's Championships for the first time in 1997.
With her trademark humility and grace, Barnes credits others in bringing the spotlight to The Biggest Little City in the World and increasing the visibility of the sport in the city.
"It feels great, but I think I'm getting more credit than I deserve," Barnes said. "When the local downtown properties saw how great the women bowlers were and all they brought to us, is when they started talking about a stadium. (USBC Hall of Famer) Roseann Kuhn worked very, very hard to get this accomplished. I think it's worked very well for our city and the bowlers."
Barnes picked up the sport during her 20s, and despite not making her second Women's Championships until the 1965 event in Portland, Oregon, she found a greater desire to make an impact on the sport behind the scenes.
"My first tournament was in San Francisco because I had a team captain here that said we were going," said Barnes, who first was elected to the Women's International Bowling Congress Board of Directors in 1989 and served as the WIBC Sergeant-at-Arms from 1994-2005. "There was no argument. That was a two-story bowling center in San Francisco. Then, I waited a few years and went to Portland, and that's when I became involved on the administrative end as a delegate and bowler. I got hooked, and we went from there."
Being such an instrumental force in the sport on a local, state and national level, Barnes naturally reflected on being a bowler throughout many changes in the sport's landscape. Even though she misses the days of keeping score by hand, she enjoys seeing the simplicity and camaraderie the sport still holds.
"Yes, I really do miss that," Barnes said. "But it was great in the squad room, seeing all the bowlers and knowing they're still strong in the sport."
In her 50th appearance, Barnes rolled sets of 456 in singles, 441 in team and 391 in doubles for a 1,288 all-events total.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - As soon as United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Betty Barnes of Reno, Nevada, set foot inside the National Bowling Stadium for her 50th USBC Women's Championships appearance this week, she was welcomed with open arms by bowlers ready to help her celebrate the milestone.
The 81-year-old right-hander started her tournament career at the 1958 event in San Francisco and received a plaque and pendant Monday to welcome her as the latest member of the event's 50-Year Club.
"It was wonderful, it really was," said Barnes, who also belongs to the Greater Reno Sparks and Nevada State USBC Halls of Fame. "Especially when a bowler says, 'I didn't know I was bowling with a legend.'"
As each day passes during the 2015 Women's Championships and more bowlers stream in and out of the "Taj Mahal of Tenpins," many never would know Barnes' pivotal role in bringing the tournament, and the NBS, to Reno.
The tournament made its first visit to the area in 1988, while the NBS opened its doors in 1995 and welcomed the Women's Championships for the first time in 1997.
With her trademark humility and grace, Barnes credits others in bringing the spotlight to The Biggest Little City in the World and increasing the visibility of the sport in the city. "It feels great, but I think I'm getting more credit than I deserve," Barnes said. "When the local downtown properties saw how great the women bowlers were and all they brought to us, is when they started talking about a stadium. (USBC Hall of Famer) Roseann Kuhn worked very, very hard to get this accomplished. I think it's worked very well for our city and the bowlers."
Barnes picked up the sport during her 20s, and despite not making her second Women's Championships until the 1965 event in Portland, Oregon, she found a greater desire to make an impact on the sport behind the scenes.
"My first tournament was in San Francisco because I had a team captain here that said we were going," said Barnes, who first was elected to the Women's International Bowling Congress Board of Directors in 1989 and served as the WIBC Sergeant-at-Arms from 1994-2005. "There was no argument. That was a two-story bowling center in San Francisco. Then, I waited a few years and went to Portland, and that's when I became involved on the administrative end as a delegate and bowler. I got hooked, and we went from there."
Being such an instrumental force in the sport on a local, state and national level, Barnes naturally reflected on being a bowler throughout many changes in the sport's landscape. Even though she misses the days of keeping score by hand, she enjoys seeing the simplicity and camaraderie the sport still holds.
"Yes, I really do miss that," Barnes said. "But it was great in the squad room, seeing all the bowlers and knowing they're still strong in the sport."
In her 50th appearance, Barnes rolled sets of 456 in singles, 441 in team and 391 in doubles for a 1,288 all-events total.
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.